“Test your game in chunks. If you are designing a big game make sure the most important part is working before adding too much chrome.”

— Peter Gousis (@MVPBoardgames)

“A game cannot please all of the people all of the time; take critical points of view under consideration, but don’t let them drag you down or send you off on a tangent.”

— Eric Jome

Early-game structures: starting resources, private and public objectives, and more:

http://www.gamesprecipice.com/resources/

Lessons from the New Bedford Kickstarter relaunch: shipping, feedback, player counts, preparation and more:

https://oakleafgames.wordpress.com/2015/08/28/lessons-learned-from-the-new-bedford-relaunch/

Designing “primal” games:

http://kevingnunn.com/2015/08/29/primal-games/

Hasbro Gaming Lab 2015 Face-to-Face Party Game Challenge

Five finalists will run Indiegogo campaigns with promotion by Hasbro Gaming Lab. One winner receives $10,000 and a trip to Hasbro to work with its game development team.

Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015

http://hasbrogaminglab.com/

Game design deadly sins:

http://www.robindavid.info/2015/08/game-design-deadly-sins.html

How to know when your design isn’t working, and what to do about it:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2015/08/28/the-54-card-guild-4/

The Inquisitive Meeple Playing Card Challenge

Design a game with just a deck of playing cards

http://theinquisitivemeeple.com/playing-card-challenge/

Trove designer David Somerville (@thisistrove) on experience-first design, rapid prototyping, taking criticism, researching design and more:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1425655/board-game-designer-interview-1-david-somerville-s

The Game Crafter Survival Challenge

Design a game where the players are in a dire situation and must survive

Deadline: Nov. 30, 2015

https://www.thegamecrafter.com/contests/the-survival-challenge

Kickstarter vs. Indiegogo–pros and cons:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-vs-indiegogo-which-crowdfunding-site-should-you-choose/

“When play testing a game, if a player asks “can I do this fun thing?” The answer should almost always be “yes!””

— Matthew O'Malley (@BlackOakGames)

“Think about why your tester said something, not just what they said.”

— Paul Peterson (@warewolf00)

“Make it smaller. Then make it smaller again. Until you can’t anymore.”

— John du Bois (@JohnduBois)

“Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and will never, ever let you get by with subpar work.”

— Jason D. Kingsley (@JasonDKingsley)

“Don’t start with what players do, but rather what you want players to think about. Then focus the mechanics from there.”

— J. Alex Kevern (@AlexWithIdeas)

“Don’t add something to your game just because it should be there. Add it because it can’t be left out.”

— Nat Levan (@OakleafGames)

“If you want your game to be published, consider the publisher part of the audience.”

— Steven Cole (@steveongames)

“Designing a game is an exploration. Guess to start. Seek to learn. No decision is final that isn’t informed by play.”

— Jay Treat (@jtreat3)